A growing tower helps you produce more potatoes in a small space. Creating the tower out of old tires saves the effort of building a growing structure and helps ease the process. Use tires of similar size so they stack neatly and don't fall over. Potatoes form tubers along the stem above the root system, so increasing the amount of stem that's buried can result in a higher yield. Although tires are made of rubber, the materials are tightly bonded and rarely leach out into the soil, according to Backwoods Home Magazine. Plant potatoes after frost danger passes, usually in March through June in mild coastal regions.
Break up the top 6 inches of soil in an area that receives at least six hours of daily sunlight. Place a tire on top of the loosened soil. Fill the interior of the tire halfway with compost or garden soil.
Cut your seed potato into pieces, approximately 2-by-2 inches in size. Cut so each piece contains at least one sprout or bud. Allow the cuts to dry for two days in a warm area away from direct sunlight.
Plant the seed pieces on top of the soil in the tire, spacing them about 6 inches apart and planting approximately six to eight pieces per tire tower. Cover the pieces with soil, adding enough to completely fill the first tire.
Water the soil when the top 1 inch begins to feel dry. Provide approximately 1 to 2 inches of water a week, but feel the soil daily and water as needed because the soil in the tire may dry out more quickly than surrounding soil.
Set the second tire on top the first when the potato plant grows about 6 inches tall. Add soil until the lower stem is covered and only the top leaves are above the soil surface. Continue to add soil every one to two weeks as the potato grows so only the top leaves remain above the soil surface.
Place a third tire on top the stack when the second tire is full. Continue adding soil as before until you reach the top of the tire or the plant begins to flower.
Remove the tires after the plants begin to die back in late summer or fall. Sift through the soil to harvest the mature potatoes.
Your Planting Articles
Things You Will Need
- Three tires
- Compost or garden soil
- Potatoes rarely require fertilization if you grow them in well-aged compost. If you use garden soil, mix 1 cup of 5-10-5 fertilizer with the soil in the first tire before planting.
- You can use the tires whole or you can remove the sidewalls with a utility knife to widen the growing area. Cut away from your body and work slowly to avoid injuries.
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